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SPORTS Wednesday 20 november 2019
Intrigue building in series of heavyweight fights

By TIM DAHLBERG the best in the world. Ruiz
AP Sports Columnist came out of nowhere to
LAS VEGAS (AP) — They are put himself in the mix, be-
a flawed group at best, coming the first fighter of
the heavyweights who will Mexican heritage to win a
be vying for your attention heavyweight title when he
— and money — over the scored a shocking knock-
next few months. Unpre- out of Joshua after being
dictable, too, though that signed as a late replace-
just adds to the intrigue of ment. Ruiz, who carries a lot
a trio of fights that will ei- of his weight in the midsec-
ther make boxing's big men tion, doesn't look like a top
must-see TV or relegate the heavyweight but his fast
division to the doldrums hands and power com-
once again. bined to drop Joshua four
Deontay Wilder is awkward times before the fight end-
but dangerous, a string ed in the seventh round.
bean of a heavyweight Fury, meanwhile, is coming
with a crushing right hand off a bloody win against
that can change every- Sweden's Otto Wallin and
thing in a fraction of a is eager to win a rematch
second. Luis Ortiz is a big of his own. He out boxed
puncher, too, though there Wilder last December for
are questions about both In this March 3, 2018, file photo, Deontay Wilder, left, and Luis Ortiz trade punches during the third most of 12 rounds but was
his stamina and age (40) round of a WBC heavyweight championship bout in New York. dropped twice — the final
going into this weekend's Associated Press time in the 12th round —
rematch with Wilder that Wilder goes off as planned. The rematch is just as un- 10th defense of his piece of before settling for a draw
serves as an appetizer for Three months, three differ- predictable, though Wilder the heavyweight title when that he still disputes.
what comes next. ent heavyweight title fights. is confident he will be the he meets Ortiz at the MGM The 6-foot-9 English gypsy
That would be Anthony And, just maybe, some clar- last man standing. If so, Grand Garden arena. held the heavyweight ti-
Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. ity in a division that excites he already has agreed to For all the knockouts and tle after beating Wladimir
on Dec. 7 in Saudi Ara- boxing fans like no other. meet Fury in another re- title defenses, though, Klitschko in 2015 before a
bia. Another piece of the Or maybe not because, af- match in February of their he's not the unquestioned downward spiral into drugs,
heavyweight crown will be ter all, this is boxing. wildly entertaining first fight. heavyweight champion of drinking and mental health
at stake when the portly "This is what it's all about in Big punchers taking big the world. There are oth- issues forced him out of the
Ruiz tries to replicate his up- the heavyweight division. chances. It's a formula ers who claim belts, though sport for nearly three years.
set win over a British fighter The big boys," Wilder said. guaranteed to please the upcoming series of He has yet to lose as a pro-
who staked a claim as the "One fight, one night, one even the most cynical box- three fights should bring fessional and, even if Wilder
best of the lot until Ruiz blow can end it all." ing fan. some order to the top of loses to Ortiz, could seek a
stopped him in June in New Wilder will look to land that "I'm a knockout artist. That's the division. big fight against Joshua or
York. blow when he meets Ortiz what I plan to do, to knock Even as Wilder and Ortiz Ruiz.
And then there's the wild on Saturday in a pay-per- you out," Wilder said. "That's prepare to meet, Ruiz and "It doesn't make any differ-
card known as Tyson Fury, view fight that could help plain and simple." Joshua are deep into train- ence to me, out of every
who can talk as well as provide some clarity to the Wilder has done that ing for their fight in Saudi negative there will be a
he can box. Fury claims to top of the heavyweight throughout his career, rack- Arabia. The location is a positive," Fury said. "The one
be the lineal heavyweight division. Ortiz had Wilder ing up 40 knockouts in a bizarre one for a heavy- thing good about boxing is
champion and can make hurt and nearly out in their 41-0-1 record marred only weight title fight, but there's there's never going to be
his case to be even more fight last year before Wilder by his draw with Fury. It's a no mistaking that who- a shortage of boxers. You
than that if his scheduled came back to stop him in formula that has worked so ever emerges victorious fight who's available, that's
February rematch with the 10th round. well he will be making the can make his own case as what you do."q

Manfred says has broad authority for

Astros discipline

By STEPHEN HAWKINS Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers matter — it relates to the
AP Sports Writer said that when he was with integrity of the sport."
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Houston in 2017, the Astros Manfred says of Major
— Baseball Commissioner stole signs during home League Baseball's probe:
Rob Manfred hopes the in- games by using a camera "I have no reason to be-
vestigation into sign steal- positioned in center field, lieve that it extends be-
ing by the Houston Astros The Athletic reported last yond the Astros at this
will be completed by next week. point in time" and adds "I
season and says he has Speaking Tuesday ahead certainly would hope that
broad authority to impose of an owners' meeting, we would be done before
discipline beyond fines, Manfred says an "allega- we start playing baseball This Sept. 11, 2016 file photo shows a wide angle view of Minute
the loss of amateur draft tion that relates to a rule again." Maid Park in downtown Houston.
picks and taking away in- violation that could affect Discipline could extend Associated Press
ternational signing bonus the outcome of a game or beyond fines and amateur "authority under the major be broader than those
pool allocation. games is the most serious signings. Manfred says his league constitution would things, as well."q